This afternoon I played in a basketball game on the Phoenix Sun’s court at the US Airways center. St. Tim’s set up a full-day with around the Phoenix Suns. It started yesterday at one with a Life Teen v. Edge basketball game. It was pretty ridiculous because all of us in our 20s looked like we hadn’t played since the seventh grade. But the high schoolers on our team ended up carrying out team to a victory.

Suns Fan

I got bored after the first quarter, and I asked if I could do commentary on the arena sound system. It was a lot of fun to bring life to an otherwise pitiful game. I’d harass the handful of people who came to watch the game. I’d pick on the players. It was cool too because this is the arena that I watch on TV all the time, and for one afternoon, I got to play in it and do commentary too.

Candyce and I went to Kevin and Stephanie Day’s art gallery after the game. I’ve been downtown to their gallery a half dozen times since it opened two months ago. I enjoy supporting my friends, but it gets boring cheering for your buddies while they play Xbox. I don’t mind making a trip downtown to support people who are creative and have the courage to show their work at a gallery. It’s okay if not all of my friends are go-getters, but the truth is I like go-getters the most.

Later in the day, Matt Maher and the band played outside. It was pretty cool hearing Matt’s voice echo through downtown Phoenix. Then it was game time. Matt Maher, Tom Booth, and a couple others sang the National Anthem down on the court. That was cool in itself, because it was a sold out game. What was cooler though was Shawn Marion walked over than shook their hands after they were done.

Our seats were in the upper level, but I could still tell what was going on in the game. But I think people in the upper level who are not hardcore fans entertain themselves by making trips to the bathroom and the concession stand. I mean, I must’ve stood up 200 times to let people out. No kidding, this one kid left his seat eight or nine times.

I was excited to see Carmelo Anthony play. Every time he got the ball, he scored. I mean, he has such a high percentage of field goals. It’s almost like watching Tony Parker. House, Marion, Bell, and Nash hit enough threes to keep the crowd rowdy. No night is complete with out Marion leaping above the rest and dunking it at least six times. This time of year is exciting because the Suns are moving towards the playoffs and the fans are more fanatic. It looks like Nash could be the MVP again. Whenever Nash was on the free throw line, the crowd would chant “MVP! MVP! MVP!”

The only other NBA team I watched play was the Hawks when I lived in Atlanta. I don’t remember those games being as entertaining as the Suns. Of course the Suns are better than the Hawks, but the in-between entertainment at; Suns game is almost as good as the game itself. They had the usual things, like a guy from the crowd trying to make a goal and win money. They had cheerleaders and dancers. Then there were things that were just amusing.

But the cooler stuff was an indoor blimp, a team of high-flying gymnast basketball players, and awkward team of dancing dads. Then they had tryouts on the floor where five dads tried to outdance each other to get a chance to be on the dads dance team. The winner’s daughter got a $2500 dancing scholarship. It was just funny. This is all the stuff you don’t get to see when you watch the game on TV.

Candyce has to work at five in the morning, so I dropped her off at her car and told her she should just go straight home and not come over my house. We like each other a lot, and we always find creative ways to keep the night going. But I didn’t want to ruin her Sunday by keeping her up late.

I type this while I’m watching Sports Center on ESPN. It’s fun watching highlights from a game that I was just at. I feel a little stupid because I haven’t followed any of the NCAA tournament. Oh well. Bedtime.